Plate-printing machine.



E. P. SHELDON.

'PLATE PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION map Mmns. I917.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

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E. P. SHELDON.

PLATE PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILE!) MAR. 15, 1911.

1,288,710. Patented Dec; 24, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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INVENTQR nnirnn sra rns ra rnnr orricn EDWARD P. SHELDON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO R. HOE AND 00., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PLATE-PRINTING MACHINE.

Application filed March 15, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD P. SHELDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate-Printing Machines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in plate printing machines.

In plate printing machines, the printing is done from a fiat engraved plate by means of depressed lines. This plate has to be inked, wiped and polished, and then the impression made on the sheet to be printed therefrom. Usually these steps are effected by giving the plate a rectangular movement in which it is successively passed through inking, wiping and polishing mechanisms and then brought into position to make the impression. In these machines, the impression is effected by means of an impression roll, ordinarily known in the plate printing art as a D-roll, the plate and paper being carried between this roll, which is continuously driven, and a cooperating abutment, usually another roll. In these machines, the sheetis fed to the plate after it has been inked and polished, by an operator who places a sheet on the plate and registers it against a line while the plate is traveling up to the impression or D- roll, this line registration being necessary on account of the construction of the machine, there being no room for front stops, as the machines are ordinarily constructed, on account of the plate having to pass under the D-roll and between it and the abutment. This line registration requires great care and accuracy on the part of the operator, and the diiiiculty is increased by the operator having to perform the registering not while the plate is in motion. There, as is very often the case, a sheet is to be given an impression in two or more colors, there is great ditliculty, in spite of the most careful attention, in getting the sheet properly registered to the line so that the successive colors will be printed in proper register. Furthermore, assuming the sheet to be properly registered to line, there is, in this type of machine, no positive control of the sheet after registration and until it passes into the bite of the D-roll.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

Serial No. 154,962.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a registering device for machines of this type by which the operator can accurately register the sheet and insure perfect registry thereof through two or more impressions, the registering devices being moved out of the way as the plate moves up to the impression or D-roll.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a means for holding the sheet in registered position until after the sheet has entered the bite of the impression roll, the sheet holding or controlling devices being then moved out of the way.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple and efficient combination of parts for effecting these results.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side view of so much of a plate printing machine of the type referred to as is necessary for an understanding of the invention, the view showing a plate moving up to the impression roll and the registering devices in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1, certain parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the invention, showing the sheet is registered position;

Fig. 3 is a detail side view showing the mechanism for controlling the registered sheet until it has entered the bite of the impression roll, the registering devices having been moved out of the way, and

Fig. l is a detail view, partly in section, showing a convenient sheet controlling mechanism.

Referring now to these drawings, the machine chosen to illustrate the invention is a plate printing machine in which the parts are given a rectangular movement to effect the inking, wiping and polishing, the drawings, however, showing only so much of a machine as relates to the impression or printing of the sheet, although it will be understood that the invention may be and is intended to be used in other types of plate printing machines. As illustrated, the various parts of the machine are mounted in a suitable frame 1, which may be of any usual or desired configuration, this frame being formed with tracks :2 about which moves a plate carrier 3 on which is supported a printing plate 4, the plate being secured to the carrier in any suitable manner, as by clamps 5. This carrier is driven in any suitable manner, as from a continuous chain 6 operated from sprockets 7, only one of which is shown, driven in any suitable manner, as from power shaft 8 through a gear 9 mounted on a shaft 10 and gears 11, 12 operatin to drive vertical shafts 13 from which run suitable driving connections to the carrier.

The impression or printing of the sheet is efi'ected by causing the plate carrier to pass between an impression or D-roll 14 and a cooperating abutment which, in the present instance, is a roll 15. The impression or D- roll is a continuously driven roll, as is usual, being driven in any suitable manner as by an endless chain 16 passing over a sprocket secured on the end of the roll beyond the side frame and a sprocket 17 on the shaft 10, before referred to, the usual means, such as roll 18, being provided for keeping the chain 16 under suitable tension. The impression or D-roll is, as is usual in these machines, a blanketed roll, and is mounted in spring seated bearings for providing a yielding impression, one of the springs being indicated at 19.

Machines constructed in accordance with the invention will be provided with registering devices for registering the sheet on the plate as it moves up to the impression or D- roll, these registering devices being moved out of the way to permit the plate and plate carrier to move between the D-roll and the cooperating abutment. WVhile these devices may be of various characters and operated in various ways, they will be of such character as to be brought into registering position as the plate and'plate carrier advances toward the impression roll, moving with the plate and plate carrier for a sufficient time to permit the operator to register the sheet and then moving out of the way. In the particular construction illustrated, there are provided a pair f these registering devices in the form of stops, one of which is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, marked 20, located so as to be brought into position at each side of the plate. These stops may be of various configuration, but in the particular construction shown are formed with two sides 21, 22 arranged at right angles to each other, as shown in Fig. 2, thus providing an effective guide and stop for accurately positioning the sheet.

These registering stops are, as before stated, moved out of the way when the plate carrier and plate are about to enter the bite of the impression roll. While this may be effected in various ways, the stops are, both for this purpose and for permitting them to advance with the late, mounted on a traveling carrier which acts to advance the stops until just before the plate enters the bite of the impression roll. This carrier may, of course, vary widely in construction, but a simple and convenient one is that illustrated in which is provided a pair of chains 23, 24 at each side of the plate path, these chains being, as shown in Fig. 1, mounted so as to give the stops a considerable advancing movement with the plate and then a quick movement out of the way. In the particular construction illustrated, the chains are mounted on sprockets 25, 26, 27 carried on shafts 28, 29, 30, respectively, suitably mounted in adjustable bearings 31 in brackets 32 secured to the frame of the machine, the sprockets being preferably arranged substantially triangularly, as shown. With this arrangement, referring to Fig. 1, the stops are given an advancing movement along the base of the triangle in operative relation with the plate and a quick removal out of the way as the plate is about to enter the bite of the impression roll. The carrier, where the carrier includes chains and sprockets, may be driven from the impression roll through a gear 33 mounted on the shaft 34 thereof through an intermediate 35 and a gear 36 mounted on one of the sprocket shafts before referred to, this gear in the particular I construction illustrated being mounted on the shaft 28, the gears being so proportioned that the carrier chains have a movement substantially that of the plate carrier.

in m achines embodying the invention in its best form means will be provided whereby after the sheet is registered it will be positively held in registered position after the steps have been withdrawn and until the sheet has entered the bite of the impression roll. While these means may, of course, be varied in construction, where the stop carrier is a pair of chains these controlling means may be carried on the chains, being arranged thereon a suflicient distance from the stops to come into operation after the sheet has been registered against the stops. These sheet controlling devices are marked 37 and are, as illustrated (Figs. 1 and 3), carried on the carrier chains 23 and 24, before referred to. While the particular construction of these sheet controlling devices may be varied, as illustrated they are in the form of fingers 38 secured in brackets 39 carried by the chains, the fingers being secured in the brackets by means of pins 40 adapted to work in slots 41, the fingers being yieldingly held against the sheet by means of springs 42 disposed in the sockets.

With the construction described, it will be seen that as the plate carrier is moved up to the impression roll the steps 20 are brought into operative relation with the plate carrier and moved along therewith at substantially the speed of the carrier, giving the operator time to accurately register the sheet against the stops. As the carrier advances, the stops advance with it, and as the plate carrier enters the bite of the impression roll, the stops are, due to the arrangement, quickly withdrawn out of the way. As the carrier advances, after the sheet has been registered, the controlling fingers 37 are brought into position and these controlling fingers 37 hold the sheet in registered position until after the plate carrier has advanced so that the sheet has entered the bite of the impression roll, as shown in Fig. 3, the fingers being then lifted out of the way by the continuing movement of the chains. A simple and effective mechanism is, therefore, provided, both for registering the sheet and holding it in registered position until it is positively taken by the rolls.

While the invention has been shown and described in a preferred form, it will be understood that various changes may be made, both in the construction of the stop carrier and in the particular form of stops and controlling devices, and that the invention is not to be restricted to the precise details of construction illustrated and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a plate printing machine, the combination with a plate carrier and means for continuously advancing it, of an impression cylinder and cooperating abutment between which the plate carrier passes, means independent of the plate carrier for effecting the registration of a sheet carried thereby, and means for withdrawing the sheet registering means out of the path of movement of the plate carrier.

2. In a plate printing machine, the combination with a plate carrier and means for advancing it, of an impression cylinder and cooperating abutment between which the plate carrier passes, a stop carrier inclependent of the plate carrier, stops carried thereby for efiecting the registration of a sheet carried by the plate carrier, and means for operating the stop carrier to withdraw the stops out of the path of movement of the plate carrier.

3. In a plate printing machine, the combination with a plate carrier and means for advancing it, of an impression cylinder and cooperating abutment between which the plate carrier passes, a stop carrier, stops carried thereby for effecting the registration of a sheet carried by the plate carrier, and means for operating the stop carrier to cause the stops to advance with the plate carrier and be withdrawn from the path of movement thereof when the plate carrier reaches the impression cylinder.

4. In a plate printing machine, the combination with a plate carrier and means for advancing it, of an impression cylinder and cooperating abutment between which the plate carrier passes, a pair of chains, stops carried by the chains, sprockets over which the chains pass arranged substantially triangularly, and means for driving the chains whereby the stops are advanced with the plate carrier and are withdrawn from the path of movement thereof as it approaches the impression cylinder.

5. In a plate printing machine, the combination with a plate carrier and means for advancing it, of an impression cylinder and cooperating abutment between which the plate carrier passes, means advancing with the plate carrier for effecting the registration of a sheet carried thereby, means for withdrawing the sheet registering means out of the path of movement of the carrier as it reaches the impression cylinder, and means for positively controlling the sheet after registration by the stops and until the sheet enters the bite of the impression cylinder.

6. In a plate printing machine, the combination with a plate carrier and means for advancing it, of an impression cylinder and cooperating abutment between which the plate carrier passes, means advancing with the carrier for efi'ecting the registration of a sheet carried thereby, means for withdrawing the sheet registering means out of the path of movement of the carrier as it reaches the impression cylinder, means for pOSitiVely controlling the sheet after registration by the stops and until the sheet enters the bite of the impression cylinder, and means for then withdrawing the sheet controlling means out of the path of the movement of the carrier.

7. In a plate printing machine, the combination with a plate carrier and means for advancing it, of an impression cylinder and cooperating abutment between which the plate carrier passes, a stop carrier, stops carried thereby for effecting the registration (1 i the sheet on the carrier, means for operating the carrier to withdraw the stops out of the path of movement of the carrier, and sheet controlling means mounted on the carrier and controlling the sheet until it .is taken by the impression cylinder.

8. In a plate printing machine, the combination with a plate carrier and means for advancing it, of an impression cylinder and cooperating abutment between which the plate Carrier passes, a stop carrier, stops on the carrier for effecting registration of the sheet carried by the plate carrier, sheet con-- trolling fingers mounted on the carrier behind the stops, and means for operating the carrier to successively bring the stops and the controlling fingers into operative relation with the carrier and to remove them from out of the path of movement of the carrier as it reaches and passes into the bite of the impression roll.

9. In a plate printing machine, the combination with a plate carrier and means for advancing it, of an impression cylinder and cooperating abutment between which the plate carrier passes, a pair of chains, registering stops mounted on the chains, sheet triangularly with respect to each other whereby the chains may be given a right line movement parallel with the movement of the plate carrier, registering stops carried by the chains, sheet controlling fingers carried by the chains, and means for driving one of the sprockets to cause the chains to advance the stops and fingers successively in cooperative relation with the plate carrier and successively remove the stops and fingers as the carrier reaches and passes into the bite of the impression cylinder.

11. In a plate printing machine, the combination with a plate carrier and means for advancing it, of endless carrier chains arranged above the plate carrier path, angular registering stops carried by the chains and arranged to move with the plate carrier, means for driving the chains to lift the stops out of the plate carrier path, and impression means.

12. In a plate printing machine, the combination with a plate carrier and means for advancing it, of endless carrier chains arranged above the plate carri-er path, registering stops carried by the chains and arranged to move with the plate carrier, spring controlling fingers carried by the chains and moving with the plate carrier, means for driving the chains to lift the stops and fingers successively out of the plate carrier path, and impression means.

13. In a plate printing machine, the combination with a plate carrier and means for advancing it, of an impression cylinder and cooperating abutment between which the plate carrier passes, means for effecting the front registration of a sheet carried on the carrier, means for positively controlling the sheet after registration and until the sheet has entered the bite of the impression cylinder, and means for removing the sheet controlling means out of the path of movement of the carrier.

14. In a plate printing machine, the combination with a plate carrier and means for advancing it, of an impression cylinder and cooperating abutment between which the plate carrier passes, means for effecting the front registration of the sheet carried by the carrier, a pair of chains, controlling fingers carried by the chains for positively controlling the sheet after registration and until it is taken by the impression cylinder, and means for driving the chains to remove the controlling fingers out of the path of movement of a plate carrier after the sheet has been taken by the impression cylinder.

15. In a plate printing machine the combination of a plate carrier and cooperating impression means, of means for advancing the carrier, registering stops independent of the carrier, and means for withdrawing the stops from the path of the advancing carrier.

16. In a plate printing machine the combination of a plate carrier and cooperating impression means, of means for advancing the carrier, registering stops independent of the carrier, means for positively controlling the sheet after registration by the stops, and means for moving the registering stops and the controlling means out of the path of the advancing carrier.

17. In a plate printing machine the combination of a plate carrier and means for advancing it, of endless. flexible carriers arranged above the plate carrier path, registering stops carried by the carriers and movable forward therewith, means for driving the endless carriers to move the stops out of the plate carrier path, and impression means.

18. In a plate printing machine the combination of a plate carrier and means for advancing it, of endless flexible carriers arranged above the plate carrier path, registerof the plate carrier path, and impression means.

In testnnony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD r. SHELDON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents; Washington, I). O. 

